What Is a Cross-Site Scripting Attack?
Cross-Site Scripting is a web vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into trusted websites. These scripts execute in users’ browsers, enabling theft of session cookies, credentials, and sensitive information without direct system compromise.
How XSS Attacks Work
Attackers exploit insecure input fields such as comments, search boxes, or forms to insert JavaScript or HTML code. When unsuspecting users visit the infected page, the malicious script executes automatically, compromising browser sessions and exposing confidential data.
Common Types of XSS Attacks
1.Stored XSS: Malicious code is permanently injected into a database or page.
2.Reflected XSS: Code executes when a malicious URL is clicked.
3.DOM-Based XSS: The attack occurs through client-side script manipulation in the browser.
Real-World Impact of XSS
XSS attacks can steal session tokens, impersonate users, spread malware, deface websites, or redirect victims to phishing pages. For businesses, it leads to data breaches, compliance failures, reputational harm, and loss of user trust.
How to Prevent XSS Attacks
Implement input validation and output encoding for all user data. Use frameworks that auto-escape code, sanitize HTML inputs, apply Content Security Policy (CSP), and perform regular vulnerability assessments to detect injection risks early in development.
Building Secure Web Applications
Adopt secure coding practices, enforce least privilege access, and train developers on XSS prevention. Conduct penetration testing, apply real-time threat monitoring, and integrate security testing in your CI/CD pipeline for proactive web application defense.